Fresh details have emerged linking a Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Stanley Amandi, to an alleged plot to violently overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the conclusion of investigations by security agencies.
Amandi, a former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was arrested in September 2025 alongside several military officers accused of involvement in the alleged coup plan.
PREMIUM TIMES disclosed that the actor was allegedly recruited by the suspected plotters to function as a civilian propagandist, tasked with shaping narratives and mobilising public sentiment in support of the planned takeover.
The alleged plot, according to investigators, included plans to assassinate top government officials, among them President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed earlier this week that investigations into the alleged coup attempt had been concluded.
In a statement, the military said the findings had been forwarded to the appropriate authorities, noting that officers indicted in the probe would be arraigned before military judicial panels in line with extant regulations.
“The investigation was comprehensive and conducted in accordance with established procedures,” the DHQ said, adding that the conduct of the implicated officers was “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The alleged coup plot first came to public attention in October 2025, when reports indicated that at least 16 military officers were under investigation, although the Army initially described the probe as relating to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
Further investigations reportedly led to the arrest of additional suspects, including civilians. Sources said military personnel implicated in the matter would first face court martials, while civilians linked to the plot, including Amandi, would be prosecuted in civil courts.
Amandi is a known figure in the Nigerian film industry, having worked as an actor, director and production manager. His notable projects include The Album, Tiger King, Cornerstone, and Once Upon a Dream.
